A late consolation does little to dispel disappointment of first trip to Oakwood for 20 years

Ramsgate travelled to southeast London for this midweek clash with VCD Athletic, and their first visit to Oakwood since 1997/98 (before VCD had to ground-share for a number of years). The Rams were one place and a single point behind the Vickers, so it looked like it was going to be a close one, especially after VCD took the points with a 1-0 win at Southwood three weeks ago.

The Rams started the brighter, and tested home ‘keeper Joe Mant a few times in the first 20. On 23 a heavy challenge on DL saw the Ramsgate midfielder laid out, however the ref allowed play to continue and Alastair Gordon found the net with the home side’s first real attack. The Rams continued to press but in the 37th minute Tony Martin headed in Ellis Brown’s cross to extend the Vickers’ lead.

At the interval Billy Munday replaced Adam Woollcott, and while both teams had chances the score remained the same until after Rashid Kamara replaced Brown in the 73rd minute, and had an almost immediate impact as less than a minute later he laid the ball back to Tony Martin who fired in the Vickers’ third. Jack Penny was brought on a few minutes later for TJ Jadama and the Rams changed formation, pushing on with 4 up front, however it was not until the closing minutes that this paid a dividend, after Munday went to ground to put the ball through to Tom Chapman, who set up Rory Smith for a late consolation.

VCD defended well and took their chances, leaving the Rams to travel back across the county without any points and regroup for their home game on Saturday against Whyteleafe.